The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-19
DETAILS OF THE FIRE.

Thrilling Ineidents, Astonishing Displays of
Nfvesand Deeds of Cool Courase.
BUFFALO, March 1S-The iremen did noble
work, and confined the fire within the narrow
limits of the three buildings named. Their
work of rescue had many exciting incidents.
the telegraph wires were. as usual, in the way
of the ladder brigade, and much valuable time
was lost in getting the ladders past them. Per
haps the most thrilling scene of any was that of
Press Whitaker, step-son of proprietor Stafford.
He roomed in the fifth story, and when aroused.
stepped to the window and looked down for
few seconds. Then be deliberately dressed him
self, and, emerging from the window. stood on
the stone coping above the window beneath.
From this coping he sterped to the next one
along the front of the building and proceeded
in this manner to truck ladder at the other ex-
tremity of the front The nerve and GOODNESS
displayed was remarkable.
j. G. Gilbert commercial traveller of l6
South Portland avenue, Brooklyn, was rescued
from the Eaele-street side He could be seen
for some minutes standing in the window of a
ffth-foor room, the flames all sides of him.
and the dull, red omnious glare behind. He
was partially dressed, and in his stocking feet
Patiently he stood there and waited the arrival
of the ladder which was being slowly raised and
it reached him none to soon, for as he grasped
it and began his descent the place he had just
vacated was seen to take fre.
Clinton Bidwell. of Pittsbure, is lying on an
improvised cot at DR.. Hayd's Office, on Niagara
street Look at my hands. he shreked; II
tied the sheets together and came down by them
When was nearly down a man shot past me
who had jumped He came near striking me.
My God! the people lay the roof all about me.
They we're groaning and dying. Ny God it was
awful. They died, know they did. The skin
is all off of me. haven't friend with me, and
none who know except in Pittsburg I made
up my mind would stick to the rope, and did y
He turned on his cot and yelled with pain. DIR.
Hayd had given him morphine, but it had no
effect
In the next room lay little Jennie Mann.
daughter of one of tho proprietors. She was
terribly burned all over, and kept calling pit
eously for her mother. and screaming with pain.
She was in her night Dress and her face was
puffed with the scorching it received.
Louis Zendman, of New York, dry goods
man, had thrilling experience. His room was
| Oh tuo lOuEtu uOoT, anu CTdWIuS OUT Oh Tue VIII
| dow, he gained entrance through q window near
the stage of Bunnell's Museum. He found his
way down the stairs and kicked open the street
door. He WAS not much injured, but is pros
trated by the excitement and exhaustion.
| Alfred G. Clay. of Philadelphia. and Louis f.
! Smith, Of Brooklyn. had most remarkable ex
perience. They were in adjoining rooms on the
| fifth floor. and tell about the same story Mr.
Clay aroused by the ring of the electric fire
bell and got up. He pressed his finger on the
button, wondering what was wrong, but the bel
continued ringing. He went to bed again for g
minute or so, and 60. up second time to try
and stop the noise. It then dawned upon him
that something was wrong. By this time the
| place was beginning to blaze furiously Hs
found the stairways cut of, and took to the
window. Both he and Mr.. Smith barely reached
Bunnells Museum roof when they looked bacf
and saw dve girls in dfth-story window. They
had tied the bed clothing into q rope, which
hung out. but none of them seemed to have thu
courage to start At last ono OF the Ave tool
hold and swung down to window ledge, from